US2683876A - Garment-like protective covering - Google Patents

Description

y 1954 R. E. SULLIVAN 2,683,876

GARMENT-LIKE PROTECTIVE COVERING Filed April 18, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. $34) A. 5044/ VAN,

uwww ATTORNEYS July 20, 1954 R. E. SULLIVAN GARMENT-LIKE PROTECTIVE COVERING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 18, 1951 INVENTOR. 8W5 50 1.4. 1 1/40, BY 2 z ATTORNEY) Patented July 20, 1954 UNITED STAT Ray E. Sullivan, San Francisco, Calili, assignor to Bikini Blanket 00., Inc, a corporation of California Application April 18, 1951, Serial No. 221,629

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a protective covering for an individual, and more particularly to a garment-like protective covering adapted to safeuard the wearer from fire and intense heat resulting from a fission bomb explosion, or otherwise caused.

It is, of course, well known that the damage effected by the explosion of an atomic bomb is derived from three factors: radioactivityintense heat, and blast force. If, atthe time of such an explosion, a person within the range of the effects of the bomb is enclosed within a shelter, the walls of which are composed of concrete of suitable thickness, he will be adequately protected from all of the effects of the explosion. While the existence of shelters of this type is undoubtedly to be desired in largely populated urban areas, the fact remains that great numbers of the populace will, .at the time of such explosion, be so located as to not have ready access to such shelters. For such individuals, many of whom will be within modern day office buildings which should provide in the average instance reasonable protection against the radioactivity and blast effects of the bomb, there will be no alternative but to remain where they are. It may be assumed that in many, if not most, of such cases the principal hazard to the individual will be the intense heat generated by the explosion and the consequent fires in the structures within which such individuals are located.

With these considerations in mind, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a portable, compact and relatively light weight garment-like protective covering for an individual, to the end that such covering may be readily donned in an emergency of the type described and serve to shield the body of the wearer from the intense heat and fires resulting from the explosion. The garment-like covering is, of course, adapted to be used in the case of fires of any origin.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings forming part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective looking into the interior of the garment-like covering while the same is in opened position;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the garment-like covering;

Figure 3 is a view in section of the garment-like covering, as taken along a plane vertically bisecting the same; and

Figure 4 is a view of the garment-like covering in use, with the wearer being shown'in dotted outline.

Referring to the drawingsfor more details" of the invention, the garment-like covering, is com posed of flame proof fabric material, such as glass cloth or suitably impregnated canvas, and said covering is comprised of body enveloping panels if! and 42 secured together at theirr'earward edges by stitching 'M' which is preferably of asbestos thread. The garment is'further pro vided with a head enveloping portion indicated generally at it and comprising panels I8 andi'fl secured together at their upper and rearward edges, as by stitching 22 and 24 of asbestos threads, and having their lower edges secured, respectively, to body enveloping panels in and 12' by stitching 26 and 28, also of asbestos threads; The panels l8 and 20 are composed of two plies of material, with the space therebetween being occupied by padding material, preferably of Fiberglas cotton. Additionally, the head enveloping portion 16 of the garment is provided with a strap 30 having its ends secured, as by staples 32 to oppositely disposed portions of the inside plies of panels:l8 and 20, said strap 30 being provided with padded filler material 34.

The body enveloping panels If! and 12 extend forwardly of the head enveloping portions N5 of the garment, and these forward extensions, indicated at 36 and 38, constitute flaps serving to enclose the front of the wearer when the garment is in use. The two flaps 36 and 38 are preferably provided at the upper ends thereof with complementary fastening means, such as snap fasteners 40.

The garment is intended for use substantially in the manner shown in Figure 4. After donning the garment, the wearer faces away from the source of the intense heat or fire so as to minimize the receiving of damaging heat effects through the forward or open end of the head enveloping portion IS. The best contemplated mode of use of the garment is for the wearer thereof to face into a corner of a room, or the like, thus utilizing a portion of the building structure to complete the shielding envelopment of his body. If such a protective corner or wall is unavailable, the strap 30, constituting holding means whereby the garment may be maintained in proper position on the wearer, may be used to pull the forward or open end of the head enveloping portion or bonnet [6 of the garment downwardly, as is illustrated in Figure 4, so that the upper surface of the bonnet may be effectively used to shield the wearers face from direct heat effects. It is to be also pointed out that the strap 39 may be used to serve a further function, that of a smoke and fume filter. The wearer may bring his face into engagement with the strap so that his nose and mouth are masked from any smoke and fumes resulting from a fire, and he may then breathe through the strap. The strap is provided with a pocket 42 adapted to contain a sponge, not shown. The sponge when wetted with water serves as an effective smoke filter and cools the air that is breathed through the strap.

The padding in the bonnet, being of fireproof material, enhances the protection against heat and fire afforded by the garment to the head and upper body of the wearer, and the padded bonnet also serves as a protective cushion to the wearer against falling debris, and the like.

It is to be pointed out that the fabric of the garment is sufficiently heavy bodied, either of itself or by virtue of the flame proofing material with which it is impregnated, to prevent it being readily lifted or undulated to disclose the person of the wearer under the effects of pronounced currents of heated air, and this heavy bodied characteristic of the garment, while not sufficient to hinder the putting of the garment on by the wearer or to render the garment uncomfortably heavy over an extended period of use, is sufficient to make the garment partially selfsupporting when the lower edge is engaged with the floor during use.

While the preferred embodiment of the garment-like protective covering of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that all substantial equivalents of said em- 4 bodiment are within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A garment-like protective covering adapted to protect the wearer from the effects of heat and fire comprising a pair of body enveloping panels of flameproof fabric material having their rearward edges secured together, a pair of head enveloping panels of fiameproof fabric material having their upper and rearward edges secured together and having their lower edges secured to the upper edges of said body enveloping panels, said latter panels each having a portion extending forwardly of said head enveloping panels, with said portions of said latter panels being adapted to serve as forward body enclosing flaps for the wearer, and a strap formed of porous material secured between the upper and forward portions of the inner sides of said head enveloping panels, whereby said head enveloping panels may be forcefully inclined downwardly in a forward direction to bring the front opening between said panels below the face of the wearer, said strap being so arranged with respect to said head enveloping panels as to be properly positioned to be engaged by the face or an occupant of said covering, said strap being thereby adapted for use as a smoke and fume filter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,082,214 Robinson Dec. 23, 1913 1,519,557 Sharrock Dec. 16, 1924 1,576,023 Barber-is Mar. 9, 1926 2,109,951 Truesdell et a1 Mar. 1, 1938 2,444,761 Walston July 6, 1948

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